Apparatus for separating metals and other substances from liquids.



No. 820,483. PATENTED MAY 15, 1906. L. DION.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING METALS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES FROM LIQUIDS.

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No. 820,483. PATENTED MAY 15, 1906. L. DION.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING METALS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES PROM LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEON DION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICUS ELECTRO-HERMATIC COMPANY, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF ARIZONATERRITORY.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING METALS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES FROM LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1906.

Application filed June 3,1904. Serial No. 210,980.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LnoN DION, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatusfor Separating Metals and other Substances from Liquids, of which thefollowing is a specification.

In an application for Letters Patent filed by me May 24, 1904, andserially numbered 209,557, I have shown and described an apparatus ofthis general class in which liquids containing metals or othersubstances or impurities in solution may be subjected to the action ofan electric current supplied from any appropriate source throughsuitable electrodes whereby to separate out these metals or othersubstances or impurities, and the metals or other substances orimpurities thus separated out precipitated while the liquids from whichthey are separated. are passed upward in a purified conoition through asuitable filter and thence to the place of discharge.

My present invention is designed as an improvement upon the apparatusshown and described in the application aforesaid; and it has for itsobject the production of an apparatus in which a greater area offiltering-sun face may be employed and the surface thus made use ofconstantly cleaned and freed from all substances adhering to it.

To these ends the invention consists in the various combinations ofinstrumentalities set forth in the subj oined claims, and in order thatthey may be fully understood I have shown in the drawings and will nowproceed to describe an apparatus in which they are embodied in the bestform now known to me.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of

an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, an endelevation, partly in section, of the portion of the apparatus containingthe filters and their cleaning devices; and Fig. 3, a horizontaltransverse section of the apparatus, taken in the plane of as :c in Fig.1.

In all the figures like letters of reference are employed to designatecorresponding parts.

A indicates a receptacle or reservoir for re celving the liquid in whlch1s contained the metal or other substances that it is desired torecover, and B a pipe through which the liquid is supplied thereto, thesame being provided with a suitable valve 6, by means of which the flowof the liquid therethrough is controlled and regulated. The receptacleor reservoir A is preferably constructed as a closed vessel with acontracted lower body portion A and an enlarged upper portion A As thusconstructed and provided this receptacle or reservoir is or may besupported upon a suitable base C and is equipped within its lowercontracted body portion A with two groups of electrodes D and D, ofwhich the group D is arranged above and the group D below the innerdischarging end of the pipe B with a space between them. of electrodesare preferably constructed in the form of plates, with thoseconstituting the positive or electrodes d of each group arranged side byside in parallel relationship and secured at one of their edges to abaseplate d, while those constituting the negative or electrodes d ofeach group are similarly arranged and secured to a correspondingbase-plate 61 With the electrodes constructed as thus described thegroups D and D are secured within the contracted body portion A of thereceptacle or reservoir A by screws or bolts passing between therespective base-plates d and (Z and engaging with the walls of thereceptacle or reservoir or otherwise, with the positive or electrodes (1of each group extending between and alternating with the negative orelectrodes d thereof, but without contacting with them or without theextension of either of the positive or negative electrodes sufficientlyfar across to touch or come in contact with the base-plate of the other.

The positive and negative electrodes being arranged and supported asabove explained, the positive electrodes of each group are connected byappropriate conductors d which extend between them, while the negativeelectrodes of each group are similarly connected by conductors d withboth the positive and negative electrodes connected with a source ofelectric supply-as, for instance, with a dynamo Eby appropriateconductors. In some instances the positive and negative These groupselectrodes of each group may be connected directly with the source ofelectric supply in multiple circuit, in which cases the positive andnegative electrodes of each group will be connected directly with itthrough appropri ate conductors extending between them. In the drawings,however, I have shown the electrodes of both groups connected with thesource of electric supply in a serial circuit, the positive and negativeelectrodes of one group being connected with the positive and negativeelectrodes of the other group by'appropriate conductors d and (W, withthe positive electrodes cl of one group connected with the source ofelectric supply through a con ductor c and the negative electrodes 61 ofthe other group connected therewith through a similar conductor a, andeither of these forms of connection with the source of electric supplymay be employed as preferred. I/Vith the electrodes thus disposed withinthe contracted body portion of the receptacle or reservoir A theenlarged upper portion A of the latter is provided with the filteringappliances. These filtering appliances may be of various forms. As shownin the drawings, however, they are constructed in the form ofcylindrical cages F, with their cylindrical body portions f made up fromforaminated or reticulated material and their end portions f, which maybe either of disk or semispherical form, made up from imperforatematerial through which the liquid to be treated cannot pass. As thusconstructed these cages are disposed within and in transverserelationship to the enlarged upper portion A of the receptacle orreservoir A, in which relationship they may be held by any appropriatemeans. I prefer, however, to employ for these supporting means aprojection or journal f on one end of each and a hollow trunnion f onthe other, of which the projection or ournalf rests in a suitable lug orbearing f, secured to or forming a part of the casing of the enlargedupper portion of the receptacle or reservoir, while the hollow trunnionf passes through and is supported in a suitable holeor bearing f formedin such casing on the opposite side of the receptacle with the trunnionconnected at its outer end with a discharge-pipe II.

With the cages F constructed and mounted as above explained, theforaminated or reticulated portion of each is covered with a layer orlayers of felt or other appropriate filtering material F, and in thedrawin s I have shown this layer or these layers app ied not only overand around the foraminated or reticulated portion but aroundthe-semispherical end portions f thereof, with the portions of thelayers thus extending downward and over these semispherical end portionsclamped closely thereon by correspondingly-shaped semispherical clampingmembersf passed over them. By thus clamping and firmly holding the endsof the layer or layers of felt or other filtering material F upon theends of the cages F not only isthe firm support of the felt or otherfiltering material upon the cages throughout its or their lengthinsured, but its or their removal from them permitted when desired bysimply movingr the clamping members toward and away om their respectiveends of the cages, and in order to permit of the clamping members beingthus moved various means may be employed. In the drawings, however, Ihave shown this accomplished at one end of each of the cages by a nut fwhich, threaded upon its respective journal f, is adapted to bearagainst its appropriate member and force it against the felt or otherfiltering material when turned in one direction and to move away fromitand allow the member to recede therefrom when turned in the other, whileat the other end of each of these cages this clamping and releasingaction is accomplished by moving the cage bodily toward and away fromthe stationarily-held semispherical clamping member f G by a suitablenut f threaded upon the trunnionf and engaging with the outer surfacesof the casing of the upper enlarged portion A of the receptacle orreservoir A, as shown.

As thus constructed a single cylindrical cage may be employed by itselfor a plurality of such cages, as may be desired. In the I form of theinvention which I have selected for purposes of illustration, however, Ihave shown six of these cages disposed in parallel vertical rows withthe hollow trunnion f 3 of each connected with the discharge-pipe H,which, to allow of this connection, may be forked at its upper portion,whereby to bring I one branch thereof opposite to the trunnions,

of one row of cages and the other branch opposite the trunnion of theother row.

With the filtering devices constructed and mounted as above describedare employed means by which the cleaning of their filteringsurfaces iseffected. These means are shown in the drawings as constructed in theform of annular brushes I, which severally surround their respectivecages F, with their bristles or other cleaning members "L disposed inrows at the proper distance apart on their interiors and extendinginward from their backs or carriers '6 sufficiently far to permit oftheir innerends resting upon the layer or layers of felt or otherfiltering material F, carried by and surrounding the cages F. As thusconstructed and arranged these brushes may be supported in various ways.In the form of the invention which I have selected for purposes ofillustration, however, they are supported from the cages themselves,with their bristles or other cleaning devices in contact with the layeror layers of felt or other filtering material F, with which the cagesare provided, and as thus supported the cleaning of thefilteringsurfaces is effected by imparting an oscillatory motion to thebrushes around their respective cages F.

For imparting the required oscillatory movement to the brushes I variousmeans may be employed. In the drawings, how ever, I have shown thisresult accomplished from a shaft L and suitable springs m through theintervention of cams Z, secured at the proper distance apart upon theshaft L and vertically-moving rods Z, which extend downward into theenlarged upper portion A of the receptacle or reservoir A at or near theopposite ends of the brushes 1 and are connected to these brushesthrough pins 77, which engage with slotted arms i with which the brushesare severally provided at each of their ends, and which extend inwardtoward the rods, as shown. With the parts arranged as thus described theupper ends of the mov ing rods Z are provided with overturned upper ends1 which rest upon the cams Z, and with lateral projections Z, to whichand the top of the enlarged upper portion A of the receptacle orreservoir A the opposite ends of the springs m are secured. As thuscombined and organized the oscillation of the brushes is effected bysimply rotating the shaft L, the result of which will be that the cams Zthereon engaging with the under side of the'overturned-upper ends of therods 1 will as their points of greatest eccentricity rise from theirlowest to their highest positions raise the slotted arms 01, therebycausing the movement of these brushes in one direction, while theirmovement in the opposite direction will be accomplished through theaction of the springs m as these points of greatest eccentricity movefrom their highest to their lowest position, and so on. The enlargedupper portion A being thus e nipped with the filtering appliances, it isa so provided on its top with suitable bearings i, in which the shaft Lis rotatively mounted, and also with a chamber N, which in turn isequipped in its top with a pressure-valve n and with a discharge-pipe nleading from it, whereby when the pressure within the receptacle orreservoir A exceeds a certain limit the air, gas, or other contents ofthe chamber may pass ofl through them and such pressure be therebyrelieved.

With the filtering appliances arranged within the enlarged upper portionA of the receptacle or reservoir A provisions whereby access may be hadto them become necessary. In some cases this access may be affordedthrough a suitable hand-hole appropriately located. I prefer, however,to provide for this emergency by constructing the top a of the enlargedupper portion of the receptacle or reservoir A as a detachable sectionand to secure it to the portion (1 below by means of suitable bolts a Topermit of this being accomplished, the under portion a is preferablyprovided around its top with an outwardlyextending flange a while theremovable top section is similarly equipped with a correspondingoutwardly-extending flange a As thus constructed the securement of theparts together may be effected by extending the bolts a, downwardthrough appropriate holes in the flanges, as shown, suitablepackingstrips being inserted between the flanges when desired.

While the enlarged upper ilortion of the receptacle or reservoir A is tus constructed and supplied, the lower end of the contracted lower bodyportion A, which eXtends some distance below the group of electrodes D,is inclined downward toward one of its sides and the side toward whichit is thus inclined provided with a discharge-pipe 0, through which anymetal or other substances deposited in the lower portion of thereceptacle or reservoir may be removed, with such discharge-pipeprovided with a suitable gate 0, whereby the passage through the pipemay be opened and closed as desired. As thus equipped the lower portionof this contracted lower body portion of the receptacle or reser* voir Ais likewise provided with a hand-hole P, through which access to theinterior of the receptacle or reservoir may be had when required, thesame being preferably constructed in the form of a short projecting pipeand provided with a suitable gate p, through which the opening andclosing of the handhole may be effected when desired.

The various parts being constructed and arranged as above explained, theinterior of the receptacle or reservoir A, as well as the interiors ofthe chamber N, the dischargepipe 0, and hand-hole P, will in practice bepreferably provided with an insulating-lining a throughout, while thepipes B and n, the chamber N, and the portions of the filtering andcleaning appliances will be similarly insulated from the receptacle orreservoir at the points where they enter or come in contact with itscasing by suitable insulating material interposed between them, asshown.

With an apparatus constructed as above described and with an electriccurrent sup-- plied to the electrodes through a proper circuit theoperation of the apparatus is as follows: The liquid to'be treated willbe admitted to the interior of the receptacle or reservoir A through thepipe B by opening the valve 19 therein. The liquid thus admitted to theinterior of the receptacle or reservoir A will rise therein and comingin contact with and passing between the electrodes of the group D willbecome charged thereby with electricity, the consequence of which willbe to cause the particles of metal or other sub stances contained in itto separate out from the liquid and fall by the action of their owngravity downward between the electrodes of the group D and beaccumulated in the lower end of the lower contracted body portion A ofthe receptacle or reservoir A. In thus passing downward between theelectrodes D the cohesive or other attractive forces will cause theparticles separated out to more or less cohere, and thereby aggregateinto masses of some considerable size. With the liquid thus freed fromthe metal or other substances and purified it will rise in thereceptacle or reservoir A and flowing upward and around the variousfiltering-cages F will pass through the felt or other filtering materialwith which they are covered, and in doing which it will part with anyfloating particles held by it in mechanical suspension. From the felt orother filtering material upon which the particles thus intercepted aredeposited they will be swept or removed by the oscillating brushes I,after which they will fall by their gravity down between the electrodesand into the lower end of the contracted lower portion of the receptacleor reservoir A, while the liquid relieved from these impurities willpass into the interior of the cages and thence be discharged through thedischarge-pipe II. The operation thus initiated will be continued aslong as desired and the removal of the metal or other substances in thebottom of the receptacle or reservoir A accomplished from time to timethrough the discharge-pipe 'O by opening the gate 0 therein, when it orthey will pass outward through the same into an appropriate receptaclearranged to receive it or them. The metal or other substances havingbeen thus removed from the lower end of the contracted lower portion A,the gate 0 will be closed and held in that condition until it is desiredto remove the metalor other substances again, when the gate will beraised a second time and the metal or other substances again removed, asbefore explained, and so on indefinitely, the liquid after having beentreated being discharged in a thorough purified and filtered condition.Should the metal or other substances contained in the lower end of thecontracted lower portion of the' receptacle or reservoir A fail todischarge itself or themselves when the gate 0 therein is opened, it orthey may be forced outward therethrough by the hand of the operator orby some implement thrust inward through the hand-hole P, which may bepermitted when it is desired by simply raising the gate 19 therein.

While in the drawings I have shown the requisite current supplied froman ordinary dynamo, I wish it distinctly understood that I do not limitmyself thereto, as it is obvious that I may employ any other form ofgenerator and may avail of either frictional, voltaic, or other form ofcurrent, as may be preferred or found the most convenient.

From the foregoing it will thus be seen that I produce an apparatus fortreating liquids to recover the metals or other substances contained inthem while purifying theliquids which while exceedingly simple inconstruction and efficient in operation permits of the thorough andcontinuous cleaning of the filtering-surfaces while the apparatus is inoperation.

' By metals and other substances referred to herein as the materialsthat may be separated out from the liquids and recovered are meant anyof the various forms of metals now knownsuch,'for instance, as gold,silver, copper, &c.and any of the various forms of organic and inorganicsubstances usually found in contaminated liquidssuch, for instance, asalgae, protozoa, infusoria, mud, &c.

Having now described rry invention and specified certain of the ways inwhich it is or may be carried into effect, I claim 1. The combination,with a plurality of horizontally-disposed cylindrical filter-cages arranged in vertical rows, and filtering material applied to theirsurfaces, of a cylindrical brush applied to each of these cages over itscooper ating filtering material with its bristles extending inward,rotating cams and vertically-moving r ods cooperating with such cams andconnected through pin-and-slot connections with each of the brushes,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a plurality of horizontally-disposedcylindrical filter-cages arranged in rows, and filtering materialapplied to their surfaces, of a cylindrical brush applied in connectionwith each of the cages over its cooperating filtering material with itsbristles extending inward in contact with such material, rotating cams,verticallyrnoving rods cooperating with such cams and connecting througha pin-and-slot connection with each of such brushes, and springs,substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination, with areceptacle or reservoir, means through which the liquid to be treatedmay be sup lied thereto, a plurality of hoiizontally isposed cylindricalfilter-cages arranged in vertical rows, and means through which theliquid after having been treated nray be conducted fr om the inteiior ofthe filter-cages to the place of discharge, of filtering materialapplied to the surfaces of the filter cages, a cylindrical b; ushapplied to each of such filter-cages over the filtering material thereonwith its bristles extending inward, rotating cans and devicesintermediate the brushes and cams whereby the brushes are oscillatedfrOrn such cams, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of January,1904.

LEON DION.

Witnesses:

N. G. DOUGLASS, R. F. SWEENY.

